St. Benedict Parish in Terre Haute, Indiana is celebrating 150 years of faith. Conventual Franciscans have been a part of the parish for 148 of those years.

Sunday, June 28, the Most Reverend Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Indianapolis, celebrated Mass and joined the parish in a Sesquicentennial Celebration Lunch.

Upcoming events include:

July 10 and 11: St. Benedict Community Festival and Silent Auction of prints and excess archive artifacts

October 3: Ceremony of insertion of time capsule in the church

October 4: A reception at the Indiana Theater followed by dinner and a presentation of 3D virtual tour of the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi by Dr. Jay Hammond

Fr. Jim Kent, OFM Conv., Minister Provincial, said in his letter to the Parish (for inclusion in the Sesquicentennial Anniversary History Book),

“In countless baptisms and first communions, weddings and anointings and funerals, we have been together in the most important times of life. Sharing these sacraments with you and with those who have gone before us gives meaning to our lives now and prepares us all for that ultimate encounter with God in the future.”

Through these many years St. Ben’s has given much to the Franciscan Order. Not only have we had the blessings of bing part of your lives, but men from St. Ben’s who were called to follow the little poor man of Assisi have made a great impact on the Conventual Order. Fr. Basil Heiser was the Minister General of the entire Order throughout the Second Vatican Council and beyond. Fr. Wayne Hellmann served as Minister Provincial and is a renowned Franciscan teacher and scholar. Fr. Joel Burget was a pastor and longtime missionary in Zambia. Fr. Maurus Hauer served for decades in the southwestern US and continues to provide an example to us as the 97-year-old Dean of the Conventual Friars in North America.

…we thank you for your faithfulness, your fellowship, and your generosity to God, His Church, and the Conventual Franciscan Order.”